Switch retainer construction



Aug. 29, 1939. M. GOFF SWITCH RETAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 27, 1937 NTOR Mont Goff arf g g Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in switch retainer construction and is particularly adaptable to mine railways having hand operated switches. Its primary object being to provide means associated with a switch to hold the same in whatever position the switch is placed with respect to the main line track.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch retainer comprising spring blocks adjacent to the moveable switch points and arranged to be engaged thereby when the switch points are open and to yieldably hold the same in engagement therewith thus preventing the inadvertent movement of the said points.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a complete switch showing my invention in association therewith.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing my invention in position on a tie.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a metal railway tie showing one of my improved spring blocks mounted thereon.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views it will be seen the invention includes a main line track it and a branch line track H having movable switch points I2 connected together by a cross bar l3 which may be connected to a switch lever M by means of which the switch points are moved.

Secured to a tie i 5 are two oppositely disposed spring blocks l6. Said spring blocks are rectangular in shape and comprise a shank I1 in which are apertures to receive bolts or spikes I8 by means of which the blocks are: secured to the tie. A spring concavo-convex are 19 is formed in the block between the said shank I1 and the end 29 which is flat and in a parallel plane with said shank to form a bearing on the said tie.

It will be seen in Fig. 1, that the two blocks are arranged in close proximity to the switch points I2. The switch is so designed that one of the points is always open no matter which way the switch is set, this arrangement being common to all similar track switches. The point that is open rests on the inside of the arc l9 of the block l6 5 which tends to grip the same by the spring action thereof. This holds the point stationary and thereby prevents the same from being inadvertently thrown by vibration or other cause. It will also be seen that as one of the points is held open 10 by the action of the spring block the other switch point is held in close co-operation with the opposite track.

The device may be constructed of wood or metal and will be found to be equally efficient though more durable when made of the latter. While the blocks are shown as being used with metal type tie it is understood the same may also be employed in conjunction with a standard wooden railroad tie.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the structure shown may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing without further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a railway switch embodying movable switch points, means for retaining said points against the main rail comprising elongated blocks of spring material fixedly secured at one of their ends to the top of a tie and provided with yieldable concavo-convex arched portions in their free ends adjacent the main rail, said arched portions being adapted to laterally engage the switch points for holding the same in closed or open. position, the arched portions exerting a constant lateral pressure on the switch points by reason of the resiliency of the free ends of said blocks.

MONT GOF'F. 

